To be recognized as the nation's premier school for defense-focused business management and public policy education and research. To be the institution that national leaders look to for education, research, information, and innovation in the management of the business of defense. To be recognized by our students, alumni, and other stakeholders for our excellence in defense-focused education and research.

Mission

To serve our Nation by educating US and allied military officers as well as defense civilians in defense-focused business and public policy, by conducting research in defense management and public policy, and by providing intellectual resources for leaders and organizations concerned with defense business management practices and policies.

Means

We pursue our vision and perform our mission through graduate education, research, and professional service.

In Education: Through resident and distance learning degree and non-degree programs, we develop students' abilities to analyze, think critically, and take intelligent actions so they can more effectively carry out their future professional responsibilities to manage organizations, resources, people, and programs in complex, sometimes life-threatening environments.

In Research: Conduct research, using the scholarships of discovery, application, integration, or teaching, that supports defense enterprise decision-making, problem solving, and policy setting; improves business management processes and practices; contributes knowledge to academic disciplines via dissemination in high-quality refereed research journals or suitable practitioner-oriented journals; and advances the development of graduate education.

In Professional Service: Provide professional expertise that advances knowledge and business management within GSBPP, NPS, the Department of Navy, the Department of Defense, and other government agencies, as well as in our professional and academic organizations.

GSBPP at NPS offers the only MBA program specifically designed to provide a defense-focused, graduate business education. The objectives of the MBA program are both to provide professional knowledge and skills to prepare officers for management positions within DoD and to develop broad critical thinking and analytical abilities of benefit throughout an officer's career. Designed to satisfy both current and future management competencies of active duty military officers and government civilians, the MBA program consists of:

An Applications Project or Thesis, designed for students to address significant defense problems and issues.

Professional Certification Programs, in both military and management areas

The GSBPP MBA is one of only two MBA programs in the world to hold dual accreditation from both AACSB, the premier accrediting agency for schools of business, and NASPAA, the premier accrediting agency for schools of public administration. The hallmark of the MBA program is the melding of private-sector and public-sector management education relevant to the defense community.

Distance learning Programs: “Reaching out to Serve Defense Community Needs”

GSBPP is a leader in developing and providing off-campus education for the Defense community. GSBPP has developed faculty, facilities and capabilities to deliver graduate programs using VTE, off-site, and Web-enhanced modes of instruction. Currently, GSBPP offers three unique distance learning degrees to serve Defense community needs.

Executive MBA: Developed initially to serve the needs of the Aviation community, the EMBA provides graduate business education to experienced naval officers expected to become future leaders in their military community. The program consists of broad management education coupled with a Financial and Acquisition specialization.

Master of Science in Program Management: Developed to respond to the need for professional education for the Defense Acquisition workforce, the MSPM meets Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) training requirements within the context of a graduate-level degree program.

Master of Science in Contract Management: Developed to respond to the need for professional education for the Defense Acquisition workforce, the MSCM meets Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) training requirements within the context of a graduate-level degree program.

Management Development Programs “Continuing Education for Professional Success”

GSBPP provides Continuing Education in the form of Executive and Management Development programs. Programs are provided in residence, via VTE; and internationally, by GSBPP faculty with both academic and professional experience in discipline areas. GSBPP offers unique programs to serve Defense community needs.

Advanced Acquisition Program (AAP): The AAP provides education and DAWIA certification to DoD's acquisition workforce, including Army, Navy and Air Force acquisition commands.

Acquisition Management Distance Learning Program (AMDLP): GSBPP provides this educational outreach program to the Defense acquisition community, offering acquisition management courses to Defense agencies across the country. These courses satisfy certain DAU mandatory training requirements and DAWIA requirements for business subjects, and may also be taken for continuing education.

Defense Resources Management Institute (DRMI): The DRMI conducts professional education programs in analytical decision making and resources management for military officers of all services, and senior civilian officials of the United States and over 170 other countries. The DRMI was established in 1965 by the Secretary of Defense as an educational institution.

International Defense Acquisition Resource Management (IDARM): This international program focuses on the development of strategies for establishing or improving a country's defense acquisition resource management in a manner that contribute to both national security and economic well-being. The IDARM program involves needs assessment, curriculum development, and course delivery, providing tailored executive education in Strategic Planning, Contracting, Logistics, Financial Management, and Program Management. This program is managed in the School of International Graduate Studies.

Executive Education: NPS' Center for Executive Education (CEE) provides courses for executive-level military officers and defense civilians, including the Executive Business Course, the Navy Corporate Business Course, Strategic Planning Seminar and Leading Transformational Change. GSBPP supports CEE on business education requirements.

GSBPP provides graduate management education in six curricular areas of direct relevance to military educational needs. All curricula have a senior leader from one of the services who sponsors the program. Sponsors are actively involved in the design and review of programs. These reviews, in conjunction with NPS and GSBPP assessments, result in high quality, unique, and military-relevant programs. Collectively, the curricula encompass all aspects of Resource Management, including the management of Human Resources, Physical Resources, Financial Resources, and Information Resources.

Logistics Management: Designed for military officers who will be responsible for managing the various segments of a military system's life cycle from initial planning for support to fielding the system, through sustaining operations to phase-out. Emphasizes all of the aspects of providing integrated logistics support of military systems.

Acquisition Management: Develops the knowledge, skills and competencies necessary for graduates to assume leadership roles in the acquisition workforce and efficiently manage the resources allocated to the acquisition process.

Manpower Management: Serves the Navy Human Resource Community of Interest by developing leaders in the design, analysis, and management of Manpower, Personnel, Training and Education Systems to maximize fleet readiness.

Financial Management: Designed to prepare military officers for effectively managing financial resources to achieve the goals and objectives of the defense forces. Graduates are prepared for assignment to positions in budgeting, accounting, business and financial management, cost management, cost analysis, internal control and auditing, and financial analysis.

Defense Management and Analysis: Designed to prepare military officers broadly for positions of leadership and management responsibility in defense organizations, and to develop the knowledge and abilities necessary for the analysis of policies and problems in defense organizations.

Information Systems Management: Designed to provide both technical skills and business acumen. This curriculum provides the knowledge to: acquire and manage information systems and infrastructure; address IS engineering and management problems; assimilate new technologies and transform organizations, processes, and strategies to compete in the marketplace or on the battlefield in the constantly changing digital world.

Faculty: “A Unique Blend to Perform GSBPP's Academic Mission”

The GSBPP faculty is unique in its composition, combining individuals with varying academic, professional, practitioner, and service backgrounds to provide relevant graduate instruction and research programs.

Academics and Professionals: GSBPP has 66 full-time faculty who are drawn from a wide variety of academic disciplines. A majority of the faculty holds doctoral degrees from the nation's more distinguished universities. In addition to the academics, practitioners are an integral part of the faculty. In keeping with our mission, we employ highly qualified practitioners on a full-time basis to enhance the relevance and quality of our programs. All full-time practitioners have at least a master's degree and have been recognized as accomplished professionals in their fields.

Civilian and Military: A combination of top notch civilian faculty combined with active and retired military officers provides BPP with expertise both within and beyond the DoD. The civilian faculty provides the theoretical and academic expertise enhanced by numerous contacts throughout the Navy and Defense community, while the military faculty provides recent DoD experience, and professional and operational expertise.

Business and Government: The GSBPP faculty blends backgrounds from both the private and public sectors. More than half of the faculty come with academic and/or professional experience from the business world. More than half come with academic and/or professional experience in the public sector.

Instruction and Research: GSBPP faculty are expected to excel in teaching as well as conduct significant research that is relevant to the Department of Defense. Faculty members maintain high degree of connectivity with sponsors of instructional and research programs. Almost all faculty work year round, teaching two quarters and conducting research and/or engaging in administrative work for the other two quarters.

Business and Public Management Research: “Scholarship Analysis Relevant to Defense Problems”

Research Mission: Research is an important component of GSBPP's mission. The primary goal of GSBPP's research programs are to provide the Navy and DoD with the capability of managing defense organizations, systems, and processes both efficiently and effectively. GSBPP recognizes the importance of both basic and applied research to the Navy and DoD; and seeks to create a balance of both types of research in its research program. GSBPP's research programs can be grouped into six functional areas:

Acquisition and Contracting

Logistics and Transportation

Financial Management

Manpower Systems and Human Resources

Organization and Management

Economic and Policy Analysis

Research Relevance: In-depth knowledge of military problems allows the faculty to provide assistance to DoD decision makers. Expertise in private sector business practices enables the faculty to assist DoD organizations in adopting best business practices. Research in military-relevant issues additionally allows the faculty to develop unique and relevant instructional material for education of military officers.

Acquisition Research Program: Established in 2002, Naval Postgraduate School's Acquisition Research Program provides leadership in innovation, creative problem solving and an on-going dialogue, contributing to the evolution of Department of Defense acquisition strategies. Objectives of the NPS Acquisition Research Program include: Establishing NPS acquisition research as an integral part of policy-making for Departments of Defense and Navy officials. Creating a stream of relevant information concerning the performance of DoD acquisition policies with viable recommendations for continuous process improvement, Preparing the workforce to participate in the continued evolution of the defense acquisition process, collaborating with other universities, think tanks, industry and Government in acquisition research.

Center for Defense Management Research: The Center serves three purposes: First, as a forward-looking source of research to support current and future Defense leaders who embark upon management reform agendas; second, as a resource where knowledge of the history, theories, themes, successes and failures of past Defense reforms can help to inform and guide the design and execution of future reform; and third as a point of intellectual coordination for academic, professional and governmental entities engaged in the topic of defense management research.

Human Resources Center of Excellence: Established in October 2007 by the Chief of Naval Personnel, the Human Resources Center of Excellence (HRCOE) serves as a focal point for the lifelong career learning for the Human Resources (HR) community. In support of this goal, the Center is responsible for the development and execution of programs that promote professional development for all active duty and reserve HR officers to include formal education opportunities for new and experienced HR officers, a robust mentoring program, and a resources and learning tools repository. Center activities and efforts to enrich the professional development and abilities of the HR Community will be aligned with the Manpower, Personnel, Training and Education mission to anticipate warfighting needs, identify associated personnel capabilities, and recruit, develop, manage and apply those capabilities in an agile and cost effective manner.

Programs Offered

The Graduate School of Business and Public Policy (GSBPP) has responsibility for seven graduate academic programs and awards seven graduate degrees. The largest program is the resident defense-focused Master of Business Administration (MBA) program. GSBPP also offers a non-resident Executive MBA program. In addition, GSBPP offers three specialized Master of Science degree programs focused on particular defense management fields, and non-degree professional development programs. These programs are:

Master of Business Administration Degree Program

Defense-Focused MBA

Executive Management Degree Programs

Executive MBA

Master of Science Degree Programs

MS in Management

MS in Program Management

MS in Contract Management

Professional Development Programs

Advanced Acquisition Program

Advanced Comptroller Course

Acquisition Management Distance Learning Program

Master of Business Administration Degree (MBA)

This is a Defense-Focused MBA which encompasses five curricular areas: Acquisition Management, Financial Management, Logistics Management, Information Management and Defense Management. Graduates of curricula in the MBA program are awarded the degree Master of Business Administration. This degree is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business - International (AACSB) and by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA). The MBA is a full-time resident program, open to all services, with curriculum lengths typically 18 months. The curricula within the Defense-Focused MBA program include: Acquisition and Contract Management (815), Systems Acquisition Management (816), Financial Management (837), Financial Management (Energy) (838), Transportation Management (814), Supply Chain Management (819), Materiel Logistics Support (827), Information Systems Management (870), Defense Systems Management (818), Defense Business Management (809), and Resource Planning and Management (820).

Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA)

The Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) (805/807) is a defense-focused general management program with emphasis in financial management and acquisition for more senior DoD officers and civilians. The program design and coursework capitalize on the current managerial and leadership experience of program participants. The EMBA is a 24 month, part-time, distance learning degree program.

Master of Science Degrees (MS)

The Graduate School of Business and Public Policy awards three Master of Science degrees, including the Master of Science in Management (817, 847), the Master of Science in Contract Management (835), and the Master of Science in Program Management (836). Each of the Master of Science degrees is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business - International (AACSB).

Professional Development Programs

The Graduate School of Business and Public Policy also administers several non-degree programs consisting of graduate education or professional courses taught in residence or via distance learning modes. These programs support professional development for managers in DoD. Current programs emphasize acquisition and financial management, and include: Advanced Acquisition Program, Advanced Comptroller Course, Acquisition Management distance learning program.